LSAC and AALS Launch Before the JD II Study to Examine Undergraduate Journeys to Legal Education, Graduate Education, and the Workforce

New research will provide critical insights into how today’s undergraduate students are shaping their postgraduate aspirations amid a rapidly changing higher education landscape

The Association of American Law Schools (AALS) and the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) today announce the launch of Before the JD II, a major new research initiative examining undergraduate students’ decisions about their future careers and postgraduate education.

Building on the original Before the JD study published by AALS in 2018, this new research comes at a pivotal point for higher and legal education. Amid surging demand for legal education, many forces are exerting significant pressure on higher education including rapid technological change, shifting admissions practices, curtailments in financial aid, and increasingly complex public opinion about the value proposition for college and graduate degrees.

“The pathway to law school begins long before a student submits an application,” said LSAC President and CEO Sudha Setty. “This study will help us better understand the early decision-making process and how institutions can support students along the way.”

“The ultimate goal is to ensure that law school and higher education leaders understand what undergraduate students are thinking and doing about pursuing law or other graduate study so that they can best design their programs and support students’ various pathways to them,” added AALS Chief Executive Officer Kellye Y. Testy.

Through a comprehensive survey of bachelor’s-degree-seeking students across all class years, the study will address key research questions, including:

• What students plan to do after completing their undergraduate degrees
• When they begin considering and deciding on next steps
• How they prepare for their intended career paths
• Which resources and opportunities they access and use

Before the JD II will offer actionable insights for a wide range of stakeholders, including law school and graduate program deans and faculty, admission professionals, prelaw and preprofessional advisors, academic advisors, pathway programs, and undergraduate institutions. The results will help inform strategies to strengthen pathways to law school, graduate school, and the workforce during a period of significant social, economic, political, and cultural change.

This project, led by LSAC and AALS, demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening law schools and the legal profession across the constellation of organizations that support legal education. LSAC's applied research team is leading the research and analysis in collaboration with the AALS research team, which is receiving support for this important work from AccessLex Institute®, the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), and NALP.

LSAC and AALS expect to be able to share findings by the end of 2027.